American Idol Recap, Thursday, March 26, Steppin’ To The Sad Side: Michael Sarver

Whoa.

That opening shot of Matilda. Standing alone on the stage. Bathed in the spotlight. Her disco ball of a head shimmering, her sleek silver body shiny as chrome on a 16 year old’s first car.

Go Matilda. Given the abuse that poor microphone stand takes each season, it was time she got her due.

Dramatic drumbeats, each one intercut with a snippet of Wednesday night’s show – Pauldonna in 40,000 bracelets, but definitely NOT like a virgin; Randy working some stunning turquoise Garanimals ... every shot of the kids singing was a direct view to their uvulas. It looks like I missed a serious vocal throwdown.

But as Ryperbole filled my ears, "Whose drama is on the line? It’s time to face the music. T.I.A.I." I knew I’d get to take it all in as they crammed an hour full of recaps, replays, and rejokes, - regurgitating the entire thing just for my benefit...

As Ryan descended the center steps once again, the lights were so harsh, so supernova-y, I swear I thought I saw Stockard Channing sitting on one side with shiny silver curlers in her hair...

Suit, tie, and now ever-present tie clip firmly in place, Ryan congratulated America on its efforts to crash the phone grids and cell towers of America – over 36 million votes – "the most we’ve ever received for any Top 10 in the history of American Idol."

And with those Top 10 assembled on the Couches of Cruelty, Ryan then gave the run down for the evening – Videos! GROUP SONGS! Medleys! Ruben Studdard! Joss Stone! Smokey Robinson! Stevie Wonder! And, oh yeah, if we have time we’ll kick someone to the curb!

Good lord – this show was going to be such a colon bloater , I paused the DVR and took some Gas-X. (All apologies to Lizzie for that slight gastrointestinal reference.)

A howdy-do to the judges – Randy, so excited to be there he did little more than pump two fingers and shout, "Woo! Woo! Woo!" I guess his shirt proved John Denver right – Sunshine on your shoulder really does make you happy.

Kara was more subtle in an 80s ponytail to one side and spaghetti earrings; Paula looked beautifully embalmed again – her face tight, wax museum shiny, wearing a chandelier around her neck, and a shiny silver frock from the Cleopatra Queen of Denial Collection; Simon? Well, look who we’ve got our Hanes on now.

Ryan paused to make sure that America, which displayed its inability to understand humor during the Special Olympics Bowling Catastrophe of 2009, asked Simon about his comment while on Leno that the President had asked him to dinner and he had blown him off.

"IT. WAS. A. JOKE. HE. DIDN’T."

They then rolled the recap of last night’s performances:

Kris – I didn’t know he was a member of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – in a military inspired shirt. "Tuck that thing in, soldier!"

Danny – once again benefitting from a dramatic light show that was so intense he apparently couldn’t stop squinting.

Anoop crooning, "Snoo-ooo-oooze, baby, bay..."  Like him, but Yawn.

Megan Miranda – seriously, all that was missing from her outfit was a bowl of fruit on her head.

Lil – hair poofy, performance a tad flat.

Michael – who even in the brief snippet, designed to highlight, well, a highlight, did not strike oil. (OIL. Get it? He works on an oil rig. Did you know that?)

Adam singing "take a good look at my face, my eyeliner? Hardly a trace..."

Matt – my pants are THISTIGHT so I can reach the high notes.

And Allison – one word – WHOA.

Loved how they highlighted the Simon drawn mustache on Paula’s face during her critique of Allison – reminded me of the Rachel-Ross flight to Vegas.

What followed next was a Motown medley from the kids – a GROUP SONG so badly lip-synced, and so disturbingly cut with photos of Diana Ross and her pet eyelashes – that it was painful to watch.

(Note, after super sleuth Justin Guarini went on TV and accused the producers of prerecording the GROUP SONGS, the charges were initially denied - "The Idols don’t lip-sync, period." Although we have all seen the evidence week after week – lip syncing so bad it looks like a poorly dubbed kung foo movie – AI finally admitted on Wednesday that "due to extensive choreography" the Idols do lip-sync. (Extensive choreography. Twyla Tharp, The Nutcracker, a Beyonce video – that’s extensive choreography. The White Man Shuffle is not.)

The Ford Vommercial followed in which the kids cavorted to Pocketful of Sunshine while creating a huge photo puzzle which they eventually drove their Fords in to. (Scott got out of the passenger side of one – yes, I am still watching carefully. The week he emerges from the driver’s side, I quit recapping this show.)

With the kids on the couches, it was finally time for some results ... Psyche! ... not yet! First we have to introduce Ruben Studdard who came out wearing a tuxedo from the Captain Kangaroo line – that was some serious white piping.

Poor Ruben. I like the guy – he’s loveable, always has been. And he’s a perfectly good singer. But not even ten seconds in he was sweating like a whore in church (one of my favorite Project Runway lines EVER.) His song was sweet, and obviously being directed at his new wife, but as the minutes passed, he looked like he was melting. You know, Elvis often performed with a small towel or scarf with which to wipe his moist brow. Ruben needs to carry a ShamWOW.

Have to give Ryan props – when it was over, he actually crossed to Ruben and wiped that sweat off with his bare hand.

More minutes passed as the kids relived their private jet adventure to Detroit. Lil loved the gold steps rolled up to the plane when they landed. Matt said something, not sure what, I was distracted by the Hindi mole in the middle of his forehead. The make-up people have obviously been covering this thing because it has not played a starring role until tonight.

FINALLY, the lights went down and Adam stood up. Only briefly as he was assigned the night’s biggest DUH MOMENT. Of course he was SAFE. Matt, however, shockingly(?) was not and was asked to take a silver stool.

Kris stood up, and Ryan said, "Wow, you, too, pause pause pausety pause pause pause long enough that Kris started to walk to the stools are SAFE!"

Lil and Michael then stood – she SAFE, Michael, not so much. Take a stool, dude.

So much for results. After the break, the cool kids sat on the couch with Ryan, while Michael and Matt occupied the Siberian Stool Section on the other side of the stage. And then Joss Stone (gorgeous in flowing locks and a long sapphire gown) and a disturbingly well preserved Smokey Robinson performed.

Smokey’s voice is still the same, but good lord, can the man even close his eyes?

Another break and Ryan got to some more results – a trio of DUHdom: Allison, Anoop, and Danny, all SAFE .

That left Megan and Scott to battle it out for the last silver stool. Scott lost, and Seeing Ry Dog escorted him to center stage where they were joined by Matt’s mole (sorry, that thing was huge tonight) and Michael.

As it was, the Seeing Ry Dog had to escort Scott back to the couches as he was still SAFE.

Who would be leaving? Matt or Michael? We’ll find out AFTER Stevie Wonder sings for six and a half minutes!

The opening shot of him at the piano? Well, the close-up of his hands made his fingers look like kolaches on the keyboard. Stevie has, to borrow from our previous performer, gotten a tad Rubenesque over the years, and his hair? Well, the braids looked longer, but it wasn’t that his hair is actually growing, the braids are just sliding further back on his head. Stevie needs a weavie?

Joking aside, he is as vocally vibrant as ever. The crowd loved him, the Idols were enthralled, and Kara? Well, she was practically convulsing. He is a living legend, his songs were a trip down memory lane - Not a bad way to spend six and a half minutes.

One more break and we returned to Matt, Michael, and Ryan on stage. "After the nationwide vote, a record setting vote of over 36 million votes, the person America can live without is .... Michael!"

OK, I have loved his attitude, unwavering cheerfulness, and smile since Day 1, and his next comment, as Ryan handed him a microphone, perfectly summed up why, "And I have to sing after Stevie? Oh crap."

The guy was living a dream, and win or lose, that was enough for him. He kept his sense of humor throughout, stayed grounded, and went along for the ride.

He reprised his performance from Wednesday evening, smiling throughout, giving it his all. And even though the judges tried to draw it out – "We haven’t decided." – Michael was as unsurprised as the rest of us when Simon finally said, "Michael, you’re going home, sorry."

The words of his song included, "if I have to beg and plead for your sympathy," he did not. As he watched his Idol Journey tape roll, the smile never left his face. (Wow! Damn – did you see that? I did not know he worked on an oil rig!)

He knows who he is, is tethered to reality by his work ethic and a family he dearly loves, and heck, he still gets to do the Idol tour this summer.

Let’s be honest – as a singer he doesn’t suck, he’s attractive, and LIKEABLE. If Bucky Covington can have a career in Nashville, look for a Sarver CD in less than a year.

And for once, as he bid him adieu, I had to actually agree with something that came out of Ryan’s mouth, "What a class act."

(Now, get your affairs in order. Because my agreeing with Ryan Seacrest is surely a sign that fire will begin raining from the skies very soon.)

Comments

[Tina in WI]

Wow, you got this up early! Admit it, you were having withdrawal pains from not writing the previous recap.

[Linda S to Toni]

OK, you got me. I could live with the shaking, but the hives and hallucinations were driving me over the edge...

[ginny]

linda another funny account of the nights events...thanks...im sick to death of anoop...he stunk it up so badly the other night that not even his starving relatives back in bangladesh would have eaten him...he must go...and go soon...as for ruben...good god he must be really hydrated to be able to sweat that much...im liking adam a lot...he reminds me of an early chris isakk...

[Theresa from Virginia]

My only heartburn with the results is that Megan, after what was a HORRIBLE performance, wasn't even in the bottom 3. She was the worst of all, and even though I didn't think she would actually get voted off last night, she should have at least gotten a wake up call.

Michael is a class act, and I hope he does well for himself, no matter where his career leads him.

Ruben needs a ShamWow! Ha! Ha! Now that made me laugh! I love Ruben, but the sweat was so distracting I'm not even sure I heard the song!

[Dusk]

I'm pretty sure the group performance was not only lip-synched, it was pre-recorded. There were no crowd shots during the entire thing and people were in their places way to quickly between songs!

[janna]

Man, that group song was HORRIBLE. Why even bother?

I'm not suprised that Michael Sarver went home. I will never, ever believe that Matt was really bottom 2. I call shenanigans!

Ginny, I will completely lose my sh*t if Adam ever does "Wicked Game." In fact, please AI gods, make this happen!

[Lisa H in VA]

ShamWow............. still dying here!

[ChickyChick (Kathy)]

"Stevie has, to borrow from our previous performer, gotten a tad Rubenesque over the years, and his hair? Well, the braids looked longer, but it wasn’t that his hair is actually growing, the braids are just sliding further back on his head. Stevie needs a weavie?"

ROFLMAOTPCOMN! (Rolled on floor laughing my ass off 'til Pepsi came out my nose!)

Linda you are in great form this early in the morning! One of the best recraps EVER! Thank you!

Still firmly in the "Megan Camp", I know, I know, no one agrees with me, but I love her quirkiness, her cuteness and her voice - just don't get the whole Adam thing - and hope it's Megan and Allison in the top two!

[Amy in CT]

Linda, as always, spot on! I love your wit. I'm still cackling here...there were so many gems in this recrap. Thank you so much for entertaining me, I really needed a good laugh to start the day.

[Katy (From Jacksonville, FL)]

"Ruben needs to carry a ShamWOW." I LMAO!!! Jesus, the guy was swimming in sweat!
I too liked Michael as a person, and thought he should have stuck around ESPECIALLY OVER MEGAN! Not only can she NOT sing (OR lipsync), we are going to have to endure another one of her "I attended the Christie Brinkley School of Dancing" routines again next week. OY!!!

Linda, glad you're back at it. I must say, you wrote a hell of a lot more than I would have expected from that God-awful show last night. I managed to finish a scarf I was crocheting during that episode!!!

[Vickie in IN]

Thanks for the recap Linda! I was very busy watching my BOILERS get their asses handed to them by UCONN. Sorry, I'm a Hoosier - basketball takes precendence over most everything else!!

I did switch channels quickly to see Michael on stage with Ryan when he said Michael was a class act...couldn't agree more. Although I knew he wouldn't win AI, I kinda looked at him as the Brook of 2009. Although I like Megan, she had no right to NOT be in the bottom three this week! That was a crime.

I can remember my dad using the phrase "sweatin like a whore in church" in the 60s! I more frequently use the phrase "sweatin like a whore on dollar day".

[Another Lori in TX]

I agree with everyone that Michael is a class act, but he also was in my bottom 3, so it didn't surprise me at all.
But who the heck voted for Megan so much that she wasn't even in the bottom 3?! And Matt should NOT have been in the bottom 3!
I have to admit that I FF'd through Reuben's performance. He has a beautiful, smooth voice, but just not my cup of tea.
Smokey and Joss sounded good together, but it kind of gave me the creeps that they were singing about being together. Just too much of an age difference for them to be looking all lovey at each other! Yuck!!

[Another Lori in TX]

By the way, Linda, it's GREAT to have you back!

[Ginger]

Although I knew Michael would be going home sooner rather than later, I still wish it had been Scott. I actually think he's the worst. As a matter of fact I wish he had gone home before Alexis.
Glad Megan made it through one more week if only for the fact that the group is so "boy heavy" this year.
And I wish Kara and Paula would grow up and stop dancing at the judges table like a couple of 16 year olds.
Great recap Linda - especially the Captain Kangaroo and Shamwow lines. :) And I must say I hated Ruben's beard - made his chin look a mile long. And it kinda looked like he had grease all over his neck. YUCK

[Jodi in IL]

Loved the recrap this morning Linda. You really had some funny lines. Loved the ShamWow comment. I don't think Ruben can sing without breaking a sweat.

[Melissa in Baltimore]

OMG, the SHAMWOW line is just a classic, Linda. Love it!!! Boy, he was schwetty, wasn't he? A heart attack waitin' to happen for sure.

[Julie G]

Great recap. The group song has become a joke. Why bother if they can't even do it live?

I agree with Another Lori in TX about Joss and Smokey. Two great voices, but the slinky lust song gave me the creeps. He's old enough to be her grandfather! I have nothing against age disparity in couples...but that's just pushing it too far! Might have sounded fine in a recording, but it gave me the willies to watch them undressing each other with their eyes for 3 minutes. Ick.

[Jacquelynn]

I used to look forward to seeing Danny, but I am beginning to think of Danny as a one-trick pony. Every week he sounds exactly the same. Like he's singing the same song. He's one-dimensional as a performer. Now think about Adam -- every week something different. Of all the contestants left on the show, the only one I would buy a CD of is Adam. Last thing -- I live south of Houston. I am so grateful that hailstorm passed north of us. After IKE, if that storm hit us, I might start taking Nostradamus seriously. HAHA

[SusanInFlorida]

After watching Smokey Robinson sing last night and thinking to myself "does this man ever move???" I went back to youtube and found his original performance of Tracks of My Tears.

I was right - he didn't move then, either.

[SusanInFlorida]

Ooops - my link didn't work, so here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MGP6vFMdE8

[Kim from STL]

Great recrap, as always. Linda, you are one gifted lady.

I really like Megan. She is the Jason Castro of this season with the quirky voice. I would definitely buy a CD of either of them. Of course, I am one of the 10,000 people who bought John Stevens album, RED. I love it and listen to it often.

[DeDe]

I missed the show last night [stupid birthday party and stupid malfunctioning DVR] so I'm glad to get your recap. I'm sorry I missed Ruben singing, though I'm not sorry I missed him sweating badly enough that he needed a ShamWow [Vince will be happy with that plug, Linda].
Cannot believe that Megan wasn't in the bottom 3. She was so awful on Tuesday that my daughter, who LOVES her, said she thought she was in trouble. I jokingly said I was going to keep her from voting for Megan and she said even if she voted for Megan 100 times, she thought she'd be going home. So color me surprised. Does anyone know what next week's theme is?

[cathie]

Linda you are beautiful! I'm traveling
and couldn't watch last night, but I
think I had more fun seeing the show
through your eyes any way.
Finally broke down and shared your
recap with my husband. It was terrible
for me to be so selfish all these
years. Now he's hooked too! Thanks
for filling our morning with laughter.

[Linda S to Cathie]

Thank you - you just made my morning. :O)

[Vickie in IN to SusanInFlorida]

Thanks for the link to Smokey! You're right...he doesn't move, but with that voice, he doesn't need to!! Now, the Miracles...those were some sweet dance moves - LMAO! (although still - better moves than Megan)

[Samantha]

Hey! Since Bucky Covington left Idol land, he has had three Top Ten Country singles off of his very first album.....a lot more than some of the "winners" from the show. Bucky's pretty popular in Nashville and the Country Music circles.

[Chris K]

Did anyone hear Scott say, I didn't know the steps were gold!!! (Of the airplane) Megan is the one being touted at Vote for the Worst.com, so obviously that is why she is still there. Unless Scott can step it up, I think he will be gone next week.

[MPolo]

LOL @ "Seeing Ry Dog"!(Dawg?) That had to be the dumbest moment of the show last night: Let's pull the blind guy across the stage just long enough for his intestines to turn to juice, then make him go sit down again.

Also LOL @ Paula looking perfectly embalmed. Spot on w/ that observation! I thought to myself last night, "I think they are putting her makeup on w/ a spackle..." If she sweat as much as Rueben did, they'd still be scrubbing the place down w/ a Shamwow or 6.

[Carrie / Quik]

Marc. I need you to know that I have tears streaming from laughing at the makeup with a spackle thing. I think it's having spent so much time around drag queens...I have a perfect mental image of makeup done with a spackle. And Ashe is laughing at me laughing so hard.

[Ginger]

Oh - I forgot to mention what I thought was one of the most amusing things last night; the idols on the sofas of safety doing the "we are not worthy" bow to Stevie Wonder. Granted, they are not worthy...but the guy is BLIND - he can't see them. :)
Right up there with Ryan's high 5 after Scott's audition.

[Kerry]

I agree with Linda's comments about Matt and his Mystery Mole. Where the heck did that come from? I was totally mezmerized, and also thought to myself "I dont' remember seeing that before."

Captain Kangaroo! I knew Ruben's suit reminded me of something, but couldn't remember what, and wanted to forget about it as quickly as I could so didn't dwell on it. I told my husband that Ruben was sweating so much, I didn't think he would be able to see by the end of the song. Sure enough, first thing he did was wipe his eyes. Ruben has a nice voice, but everythign he sings sounds the same.

I think the voters are assessing people based on their past and potential, not single performances. That's why Meghan and Lil got passes this time, but you saw Scott and Michael Sarver in the bottom. As for Matt G, he isn't going to make it real far, because he suffers from "pre-season" identity crisis - we never really got to know him, and now no one is really attached to him.

[Robert Clark]

Thank you for the joy you bring. I love reading your recaps much more than watching the show.

[Ashley]

Am I the only one that has seen the mole before?? Beware - once you know it is there, it's all you can look at!

Also, doesn't Ford give new cars to the two finalists?? What will they give to Scott if he is in the final two(God forbid)!?

[Beverly C.]

I love your recaps! They should just crown Adam the winner and save us the rest of these otherwise pretty boring season. Megan on Tour and not in bottom three, surprise! Scott on tour and still on the show, surprise. I had a mole on my chin and it got zapped off for less that $100 bucks, I should send Matt some money. It was freaking me out also. Michael would have stayed longer if he were a country singer but he was not - he is R & B but no Elliot Y for sure. Not sure Nashville will welcome him at all like they did Bucky who is pure country. I miss Alexis!

[Linda S to Ashley]

A seeing eYbrid?

[Kim]

This morning I forwarded your recap to my husband at work. He had never read it before, but he just now called me , laughing, saying "she is Good" ! "she is FUnnY! "she should write for the paper or something.." then he proceded to read back parts of it to me (while laughing) ..(as if I hadn't already read it)..but I politely listened and we laughed again :D
I'm supposed to send him the one from last week now, and all future recaps!

[Nikki]

I was sorry to see Michael go. What a genuine good soul he is. I hope he finds a niche somewhere post tour because he has a nice voice and is someone you really want to root for.

My boyfriend who hates Idol watched with me the other night because as he puts it "every relationship requires sacrifices" was completely appalled at Meghan. From the "hey that necklace looks like the blocks we played with in kindergarten" to the "are you sh***g me? She used that same funkydunk voice on a Patsy Cline song and is still in?" I explained VFTW and he rolled his eyes so far back he could see his nice little bum. (FunkyDunk is usually reserved for really bad smells, btw, so he musta thought she really stunk).

I missed everything last night but the results. Sorry I missed Stevie and Smokey, though. People are still loving them 40 years later and with good reasonbbb. Gotta wonder how many Idols will be able to say that 40 years hence.

[Kristi in NC]

I love your recap as always, but why does everyone always have to pick on Bucky Covington? I expect as much from Simon, but you too Linda? I always liked Bucky on AI, because he's from NC and he's a good looking guy. However, even though I'm not a big country music fan, and he was not my favorite AI contestant during his season, I have to defend him just a bit here. I didn't pay any attention at all to Bucky after his AI season. Then one day my Mom-in-law, fellow AI fanatic, told me Bucky would be playing at our local fair. I know, playing at the local fair speaks volumes all by itself... But please hear me out? My hubby & I went. Yea, hubby was incredulous at first, but being the wonderful man he is, took me just to make me happy. His first reaction was: “You’d want to see Bucky!?! Really??” My response, was: “Yea, I’d go see any of the AI top 10 contestants at the fair. Why not?” We went, and we were both actually very pleasantly surprised. Now, neither of us are consert virgins, we've seen everyone from Elvis, to Garth, to Grateful Dead, to Prince, to AC/DC, to The Rolling Stones, to Poison, to Hank Williams, to The Allman Brothers, to Jimmy Buffet, to Reba, to Bad Company, to Lynard Skynard, to Rod Stewart and on and on and on. My point here is that through the years, we’ve made kind of a hobby out of going to live concerts and we’ve seen a large variety of performers & several different genres of music. Bucky was a good solid performer. His songs were good, he kept the audience entertained and it was well worth our time. At the end of the evening, my hubby said he was glad he went and I bought Bucky’s CD. Now, I’m not Bucky’s biggest fan by any means, but still I don’t think he quite deserves to be the “if he can make a career of it, ANYbody can guy.”

[Linda S to Kristi]

I don't dislike him - my point is that he was not exactly the strongest contestant in his season either.

[Tom]

Interesting that none of the three females remaining were in the bottom three, although one, Meghan, thoroughly deserved to be, and another, Lil, had her weakest performance to date. Perhaps the producers are worried about having only male contestants the final 5-6 weeks, although I believe Allison is the best and should win this thing.
Also, if a contestant talks about how much they miss being with their child/children (Alexis & Michael)...poof...they get voted off! Meghan and Lil could be next.

[Katy (I'm real, too)]

Awesome recap, Linda! I was watching the show last night and when I saw the giant thing protruding from Matt's forehead, I couldn't wait to get your take on it and you didn't disappoint.

The "shamwow" comment is a classic. LOL.

[Vickie in IN to Linda]

I always liked Bucky too, although I agree he wasn't going to win AI. I feel kinda bad for him...who in the music industry is is going to take you serious when your name is Bucky? I think AI was just what he needed to make people listen (beyond "hello, my name is Bucky").

Although I enjoy all genres of music, country probably is my favorite. So far, I haven't been disappointed with Bucky's music or videos.

While I'm on the topic...Linda, I just have to thank you for your entry some time ago inquiring about what we all have on our Ipods. When you suggested "Riskay", I went straight to ITunes, listened and bought! LMAO...such a sweet love song.

[Linda S to Vicki]

Yes, I find that nothing says love and trust in a relationship better than "Let me smell yo dick..."

[Gayle in Iowa]

"A seeing Eybrid"?!?!?!

That is HYSTERICAL!

Love the recap! I look forward to it after every show. Im beginning to think Danny has more pairs of glasses then Sally Jesse Rapheal! I know some women collect shoes, but I wasnt aware of anyone collecting eye glasses before!!

Am glad though Megan is safe, even though she sucked big time the night before. We need some gals on there to even out the guys.

[laurie]

I don't know who is voting for Megan. We have to face it. She is Season 8's Sanjyah and Christie Lee Cook. She'll probably be around for a few more weeks.

[Another Lori in TX]

I would be totally fine with the competition becoming all guys (except for Allison) - if they're better, they should be there. I was really happy to see them not bow to the even number of boys and girls when they chose the Wild Cards.

[Diver]

Thank you to all of Bucky's defenders here. For those that need an update on him, this is hot-off-the-press from his label Lyric Street:
Nashville, TN- After delivering three consecutive Top 10 hits at country radio and selling more than 400,000 units of his self-titled CD to become the best-selling country debut release of the 2007 class, Bucky Covington is preparing to deliver his first new music since last year's poignant Top 10 hit, "I'll Walk." The new single, "I Want My Life Back," is written by tunesmiths Frank Myers and Anthony Smith and serves as the lead single from Bucky's upcoming sophomore CD.
"I Want My Life Back" will be available for digital download by country radio starting Monday, March 30 via PlayMPE.
Following his stateside return from his first overseas USO Tour, Covington is currently in the studio with producers Mark A. Miller and Dale Oliver recording new music for his sophomore CD. Fans can also catch Covington make his big screen debut in on April 10 in Hannah Montana The Movie.

[Another Lori in TX]

Thanks for the update, Diver.
I know that I'll be seeing that big screen debut since my daughter has been waiting for that movie with bated breath! I'm sure we'll be there on opening day.

[Penny in Carrollton]

Linda, I'm sorry you didn't get to see the tutu Paula was wearing the 1st night. I was looking forward to your comment.
They don't try to hide the fact that the group song is prerecorded anymore. No matter how bad they are they will continue to do it because they need the filler.
Honestly, I thought Matt's mole was a pimple that cropped up overnight. I'd never noticed it before.
Smokey did move during the duet. Very small steps inching closer & closer to Joss. Creepy! But to me she looked as uncomfortable as I was watching it.